Leadership at a Crossroad

John Krautzel
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Leaders face challenges on a daily basis. However, with a faltering economy and uncertainty within profit margins, leaders face an even bigger responsibility to trudge forward with positivity in the workplace. Leadership strategies for today's leaders must embrace new tactics that conquer the challenges, set examples and encourage employee empowerment.

The ever-changing economy and workplace practices offer a challenge for leaders, but it is not an impossible venture. Managers and senior leaders have the option to embrace the changes or continue with outdated practices that can significantly decrease morale and company profits. Modern technology has expanded the realm of responsibility and possibilities for leaders to interact with employees, serve clients and enhance company operations. A new approach is not just a novel idea; it is a necessity.

A charismatic leader may have been a one-fold solution in the past, but much more is needed to achieve employee empowerment in today's world. Leadership strategies must take into account the emotional intensity within the workplace and the complexities of managing huge amounts of information. Employee input is crucial when making business decisions that affect customers, clients and employees. Solicit ideas from middle management, survey employee attitudes and maintain transparency through face-to-face interactions and technology to ward off anxiety from uncertainty during reorganization and policy changes.

Show employees that a leadership crossroad is a positive means for change. As you evaluate leadership strategies, evaluate the visibility of top-level management. Are your leaders self-confident, visible to employees and available? Do your leaders subscribe to the company values and lead by example to prompt employees to subscribe to the company's mission?

Develop emotional intelligence with leaders to achieve your company's goals. Emotional intelligence provides a manager with leadership strategies that focus on the ability to manage and identify emotions within themselves and their subordinates. Great leaders can recognize and foster the emotions of employees and clients, which ultimately provides them with the tools to handle crisis situations, develop strong relations and negotiate successfully.

Leaders with a high level of emotional intelligence can relate to employees and associate their own feelings to motivate, inspire and critically analyze what changes need to be made. A focus on managing emotions can be one of the most powerful leadership strategies to improve productivity, employee morale and overall job performance. Employees who witness a leader thinking critically before acting on emotion, develop more trust in the abilities of management and are often more willing to accept business decisions and subscribe to corporate values.

Managing and leading a company through changes is a difficult and challenging task. With leadership strategies that focus on compassion, emotional intelligence and transparency, employees feel empowered, motivated and inspired to trust management, satisfy clients and remain loyal to the business.

 

Photo Courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net


 

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  • JOHN URES
    JOHN URES

    Have you developed your Emotional Intelligence? Leaders must have this skill.

  • Douglas Norkus
    Douglas Norkus

    Outstanding article. Often easier said than done, but the key is keeping communications open and honest during the inevitable difficulties associated with change.

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